Art History

Repousse

formed in relief by beating a metal plate from the back, leaving the impression on the face

Basilica

In Roman architecture, a civic building for legal and other civic proceedings, rectangular in plan with an entrance usually on a long side. In Christian architecture, a church somewhat resembling the Roman basilica, usually entered from one end and with an apse at the other.

Propylia

gatehouse to a complex of buildings

shaft of a column

the body of a column

Entablature

a horizontal, continuous lintel on a classical building supported by columns or a wall, comprising the architrave, frieze, and cornice.

Altamira cave

A cave in northern Spain where prehistoric paintings were discovered in 1879. The paintings are believed to be 25,000 - 35,000 years old.

Arthur Evans

Amateur British archaeologist who excavated the palace of Knossos in Crete to find what he called Minoan civilization (1851-1941). Evans was a subject of the British Crown with wealthy Victorian England values.He superimposed the idea of British monarchical society onto Minoan society.

Sarchophagus of Junius Bassus Grottoes of St. Peter, Vatican, Rome 359 ad, Marble, 4'x8' -shows scenes from hebrew and christian bible (adam and eve) -marble -early christian stone coffin -made for prefect of rome -jesus w st paul and st peter, scenes of st paul and st peter -abraham and issac -Job -adam and eve -jesus enters jerusalem -daniels in the lions den -peter was given the keys to heaven by jesus, he now runs the kingdom of god, he's always depicted with a short beard

Grottoes of St. Peter, Vatican, Rome 359, Marble, 4'x8'

Crete

the largest Greek island in the Mediterranean and site of the Minoan civilization that reached its peak in 1600 BC.

Mycenaean

On the Greek mainland, Peloponnesus Peninsula, the Mycenaeans developed c. 1900 BC; Built huge fleet of ships to capture trade routes and established colonies; Adopted Minoans writing and building ideas and became more powerful by conquering the Minoans in 1450 BC. The Mycenaean Age lasted from 1450 AD-1100 BC

Cyclades

the pre-Mycenaean civilization on the Cyclades islands in the southern Aegean sea. Thrived between 3200 and 2000 BCE

Lascaux cave

Paleolithic cave paintings from 15,000 BCE located in France

Minoan

Prosperous civilization on the Aegean island of Crete in the second millennium B.C.E. The Minoans engaged in far-flung commerce around the Mediterranean and exerted powerful cultural influences on the early Greeks.

Chauvet Cave

The earliest known painted cave, dated to between 38,000 and 33,000 years ago. It is located in France.

North Frieze (Siphnian Treasury)

The theme on the north frieze is the Battle of the Giants (Gigantomachy), namely the battle of the sons of the Earth, the Giants, with the Olympian gods for power. It is a widespread myth about the conflict between the old and the new world order, depicted very frequently in ancient Greek art. It symbolizes the triumph of order and civilization over savagery, barbarism and anarchy. On one side are the Giants. Heavily armed with helmets, shields, breastplates and greaves, they are attacking the gods from the right with spears, swords and stones. On the opposite side are the gods. First Hephaestus stands out with his short chiton, standing in front of his bellows. He is followed by two females fighting two Giants, then Dionysus (or possibly Heracles), and Themis on her chariot drawn by lions. A pair of gods who are shooting their arrows against the Giants must be Artemis and Apollo. They are followed by the other gods, but these sculptures do not survive in good condition.

Gorgon Medusa

West pediment of temple of Artemis. Huge sculptures; very archaic with stylized hair, smile, bulging eyes

colonnade

a row of columns supporting a roof, an entablature, or arcade.

Entasis

a slight convex curve in the shaft of a column, introduced to correct the visual illusion of concavity produced by a straight shaft.

the Doric Order

simple, heavy columns without a base and topped by a broad, plain capital

Pediment

the triangular upper part of the front of a building in classical style, typically surmounting a portico of columns.

Capital (column)

top of column